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With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. A new series of documentary-style short videos are out to tell the compelling stories of the families and people who produce our high-quality Northwest pears.

VID CLIP …

Pear Bureau Northwest’s Kathy Stephenson says the videos are a great way to get a peek behind the current, and into the orchards where the work is done …

STEPHENSON … “Even for me, it’s an interesting process to understand and continue to stay focused on why the Pear Bureau is in existence. These growers are what we do this for. The growers are the ones that bring this amazing fruit quality and keep the industry going and these kind of videos and this messaging is really important for all of us.”

And, Stephenson says the Pear Bureau is very fortunate to have the creative genius behind the videos “in house” …

STEPHENSON … “Neil Ferguson is on our staff. He’s been here for almost exactly 12 months now and he comes from a background with film school as well as journalism, so his idea was to help really tell this story in an authentic documentary way. And, he really drove it and set the tone for it, worked with all of us to get the right people on the screen and then found a terrific video crew here out of Portland to travel with us to some of these growing regions. And, Neil has done a beautiful job and we are so fortunate to have him in our organization.”

Go to USA Pears dot org to check out the videos and for everything pear related.

Check them out at https://usapears.org/hand-picked-press-release/

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BL: Welcome back to another “Fruit Bites” brought to you by Valent U.S.A. With us, as always, is Valent’s Allison Walston. So Allison, this week we’re talking about connecting Farms to Schools.

AW: October is National Farm to school month. Whether it is planting school gardens or teaching students where food comes from, these programs help inform students about agriculture in ways they might not be exposed to at home.

BL: We could even inspire the next generation of gardener, farmer or rancher.

AW: or agricultural scientist or even entomologist

BL: So, during National Farm to School month, how can we get involved?

AW: Usually there are partnerships with each state’s Department of Ag or Education as they tend to oversee these programs.

BL: Maybe if you have an orchard or farm, reach out & volunteer to host a school field trip?

AW: I just sponsored a student to attend the National FFA meeting.

BL: EXAMPLE

AW: Support farm to school programs in your community. For more info in Oregon, visit the Oregon Department of Ag’s website and search for Farm to School.

BL: You got it Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I’m Bob Larson.